A TIGER CUB GROWS UP

Age Range: 4 - 6

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2001ISBN: 1-57505-163-XPublisher: Carolrhoda

Some little tiger cubs grow up with their mothers, but this one born in Six Flags Marine World, a wild animal park in California, is raised entirely by human keepers. Lots of pictures show the infant tiger drinking from a bottle, taking a first bath, smooching and cuddling with her human keepers, walking on a leash, and joining the adult tigers in the exhibit. Easy-reading text offers somewhat stilted explanations of what the color photos show. “It is time for a checkup. The bright lights are scary. The tiger cub roars.” The author notes, “Tigers can be trained to do what people want them to do. But tigers cannot be tamed.” In an afterword, she states: “Many zoos and wild animal parks breed captive Bengal tigers. One day, some of these tigers may be returned to the wild.” Animal theme parks use this line to justify breeding and keeping endangered animals as exhibits, but conservationists may be saddened by this effort to turn wild animals into cute displays. (Nonfiction. 4-6)